ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Monday, May 20, 1996 TAG: 9605200146
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-3 EDITION: METRO
TYPE: IN THE REGION
SOURCE: FROM STAFF REPORTS
Maryland gave Virginia a ray of hope Sunday before closing the door on the Cavaliers' upset bid in the NCAA Division I women's lacrosse championship game.
Kelly Amonte scored five goals as the Terrapins extended their winning streak to 36 games and became the first team to win back-to-back women's lacrosse titles with a 10-5 victory at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pa.
Virginia, which lost to Maryland 16-5 on March 20, trailed 5-3 at the half and was as close as 6-4 following Kate Evans' second goal, with 27:44 remaining.
Amonte, sister of Chicago Blackhawks hockey player Tony Amonte, responded 52 seconds later with the first of back-to-back goals. Maryland scored four goals in a row before Heather Patton ended the scoring with a goal for Virginia.
Virginia (14-4) led 2-1 with 19:42 remaining in the first half, and Amonte put the Terrapins (19-0) ahead 4-3 with 9:34 to go before halftime. Amonte finished her career with 319 points, sixth in Division I history.
Michelle Cusimano had 19 saves for Virginia and was named to the all-tournament team with teammates Peggy Boutilier and Kara Ariza. Third-ranked UVa had reached the final by beating No.2 Loyola (Md.) 10-9 in a semifinal.
It was the first time the Cavaliers, the Division I champions in 1991 and '93, had reached the championship game and lost.
In other sports news in the region:
* Ferrum College advanced to the championship round of the NCAA Division III South Regional baseball tournament, but saw its bid for a spot in the NCAA championships in Salem end with an 8-4 loss to host Methodist in Fayetteville, N.C.
The Panthers earned their shot at Methodist with a 14-13 victory over Millsaps (Miss.).
Ferrum (35-11-1) scored eight runs in the first inning, but led only 9-8 after three. Millsaps pushed a run across in the bottom of the fourth to tie the score at 9. The Panthers responded with four runs in the top of the fifth, only to see Millsaps close to 13-12 with three runs in the bottom of the sixth. Each team scored a run in the ninth to complete the scoring.
Martin Ploetner pitched 52/3 innings of relief to pick up the victory for Ferrum, and Panthers ace Jimmy Hamilton picked up his second save of the season with one inning of hitless relief.
In the championship game, the Panthers dropped an 8-4 decision to Methodist. The win advances Methodist to the Division III College World Series to be held in Salem.
Ferrum fell behind early as the Monarchs put up three runs in the first inning. The Panthers tied it in the third and took the lead with a run in the sixth. But Methodist countered with five runs in the final three innings to seal the victory.
Chris Qually went the distance for the Monarchs. Jermaine Fletcher took the loss for the Panthers, giving up four hits and three earned runs in 71/3 innings. Fletcher's undoing was six walks.
Hamilton was named to the all-regional team, joining teammates David Jones (second base), Luther Headley (right field) and Pat Muncher (designated hitter).
* George Mason's attempt for a record eighth consecutive IC4A outdoor track and field championship was derailed by Liberty University.
The Lynchburg school edged the host Patriots 93-88 to win its first IC4A title.
``It's a David and Goliath story,'' said Brant Tolsma, Liberty's coach. ``Nobody would believe we could have done it.''
The Flames have improved each season, finishing 14th in 1992, 11th in 1993 and runner-up to George Mason the past two years.
George Mason, the NCAA indoor champion in March, lost a chance for vital points when it didn't enter a team in the 3,200-meter relay. Coach John Cook said he wanted his runners to save something for the NCAA Championships scheduled for May 29-June 1 in Eugene, Ore.
All was not lost for host George Mason, which saw its women's squad capture its third consecutive ECAC outdoor championship at the four-day combined meet.
Virginia's Angela Lee won the 400 hurdles in 57.64 seconds.
* The Blue Ridge Lightning of Roanoke won the boys' U-14 division of the Taco Bell/Diadora Seaside Soccer Classic in Wilmington, N.C.
Craig Janey scored the only goal of the championship game as the Lightning blanked the Concord (N.C.) Vipers to win their second title of the spring season. Justin Greene led the Lightning attack in the tournament with three goals. Brant Soma was in goal for shutouts in the quarterfinal and semifinal rounds, as well as the championship game.
In the same tournament, the Roanoke Star U-14 White team finished second after losing to the Jacksonville United in the premier division championship game. The Star beat the Wilmington Breakers in a semifinal in a shootout.
LENGTH: Medium: 93 linesby CNB